“We’ve been pacing all morning, looked at a thousand forecast models and now we’ve got the dice in the back pocket and we’re going to go out there and give it a go!”
Justin Ferris, sailing master on the Botin 52 Caro, was echoing the thoughts of almost every navigator across the fleet of 103 yachts, mere hours before the start of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
For a week leading up to the Boxing Day start, a large low pressure system had been hanging persistently over the New South Wales and Victorian border, throwing off clusters of thunderstorms like grenades and leaving forecasters and navigators alike baffled as to when it would move and in what direction. The uncertainty persisted all the way to race day, the only consensus being that there were probably three race tracks to choose from to reach Bass Strait and still be on race pace.
Down the rhumbline – with the current assisting but lots of wind ‘holes’ – had most appeal for the smaller yachts. Heading offshore in search of breeze seemed logical for the 100-footers, which would probably be in Hobart before the forecast south-westerly started to build. But the biggest gamble was for the 50- to 60-footers; follow the Maxis offshore and there was a chance of ‘missing the cut’ if the low moved east before boats reached Green Cape, at the entrance to Bass Strait. Heading east of the rhumbline – where there should be more breeze but it was likely to still be patchy – was an unhappy compromise too.
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Denne historien er fra March 2024-utgaven av Yachting World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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NIKKI HENDERSON
WHERE DO YOU FIND HANDY BILLY WHEN YOU NEED HIM?
MATTHEW SHEAHAN
IS OLYMPIC SAILING ACTUALLY HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS A SHOWCASE OF THE SPORT FOR BOTH COMPETITORS AND SPECTATORS?
Building fleet for Baltic Sea Race
The second edition of the Roschier Baltic Sea Race, a 635-mile race out of Helsinki, Norway, saw varied conditions and a new benchmark course time set.
New cruising charter 'Odyssey'
Charter company Dream Yacht has launched a new round the world supported cruising programme for yacht owners which draws on the company's extensive network of charter bases.
Mixed fortunes at Marseille
The Paris 2024 sailing regatta saw mixed fortunes for many favourites - some confirming their dominance, others crashing out as variable winds played havoc.
The yacht Bayesian
Bayesian is one of Italian yard Perini Navi's 56m series, originally named Salute.
Seven dead in superyacht sinking
Seven people are dead following the sinking of the superyacht Bayesian, a 56m/184ft British-flagged Perini Navi, off the coast of Sicily.
5 EXPERT TIPS HELENA DARVELID ON MULTIHULL CONTROL
Performance multihull racing is growing hugely in popularity. Helena Darvelid shares some key learnings with Andy Rice
PALMA'S FUN FACTOR
FUN ON AND OFF THE WATER IS AN UNBEATABLE COMBINATION AT THE SUPERYACHT CUP PALMA, WRITES PHIL RILEY
SWAN 88 DREAMCATCHER
GLOBAL LEADERS AT THE SEMI-CUSTOM END OF THE PRODUCTION SCENE, NAUTOR SWAN INVITED US FOR THE FIRST SEA TRIALS OF ITS BIG NEW 88